Saliva-ejector attachment for a dental matrix band retainer



Nov. 5, 1957 a. F. TOFFLEMIRE SALIVA-EJECTOR ATTACHMENT FOR A DENTAL MATRIX BAND RETAINER Filed June 25, 1956 R o T M E N I BENJAMIN F. TOFFLEMIRE BY Y ATTORNEYS U t d at P ten SALIVA-EJECTOR ATTACHMENT FOR A DENTAL MATRIX BAND RETAINER Benjamin F. Tolflemire, Lafayette, Calif. Application June 25, 1956, Serial No. 593,531 7 Claims. (Cl. 32-63) cured to a matrix band retainer so as to aspirate secretions from the patients mouth, when theretainer is utilized for holding a looped dental matrix band around a tooth of the patient.

More particularly described, it is proposed to provide a saliva-ejector having an upper section which is adapted to be secured to a head of the retainer, and further including a disposable lower section detachably carried by the upper section. The lower section is fashioned with a rockershaped apertured suction tube, which is designed'to rest gently on the floor of the patients mouth. The disposable section is adjustable toward and away from the floor of the mouth, thus providing for teeth of different heights and various depths of mouths.

Furthermore, the suction tube is curved sufficiently to prevent its apertures from becoming clogged by the soft tissues of the mouth. Also, the disposable section is made of plastic, thus reducing its cost of manufacture, and thus permitting it to be discarded after being used. The disposable section is held against rotation with respect to the upper section, while at the same time affording vertical adjustment thereof.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features will be set forth in the claims hereunto appended.-

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should behad to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which:' Figure 1 is an occlusal view of the lower teeth of a patient, illustrating my improved saliva-ejector attachment in operative position, with a dental matrix band being clamped arounda tooth .by a matrix band retainer;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the retainer and attachment, as observed from the plane II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bucco-lingual sectional view taken along the plane III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the vertical plane IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an elevational View of the disposable section of the salvia-ejector, on an enlarged scale; and

Figure '6- is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 2.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the an nexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

2,811,777 7 Patented Nov. 5, 1957 ice;

2 Detailed description Referring to the drawing, I have shown a dental matrix re'tainerlwhich is designated generally at A. For the purpose of illustration only, the contra-angle retainer covered by my United States Patent No. 2,591,745 has been selected, with my saliva-ejector attachment B being secured thereto. Of course,'this same attachment may be applied to the universal retainer disclosed in my United States Patent No. 2,502,903. The retainer A has a looped dental matrix band C fastened thereto, which has been disclosed as being clamped around the axial contour of a posterior tooth D.

With respect to the structural details of the retainer A, it includes a bar-like frame 10 on which a matrix clamping block 11 is slidably mounted. This frame has an inverted U-shaped head E at its forward end (see Figures 3 and 4), which has four parallel and spaced-apart fingers 12. As shown in Figures l and 6, the matrix band C has been looped back upon itself, and the arms 14 of the band have been introduced between selectedfingers 12 of the head. [The terminal ends of these arms are anchored in a slot 15, which is formed in the block 11 (see Figure 2), and are clamped thereto by ,a threaded spindle 16. l 7

Moreover, the retainer Ajis provided with a rotatable internally threadedsleeve 17, which is held against endwisemovemen-t relative to the frame 10. The threaded spindle l6 extends through this sleeve. When the-sleeve 17 is turned, the spindle and the clamping block 11 are advanced or retracted relative to the head E of the retainer. It will be quite apparent that when the block 11 is moved'away from the head E, the'loop ofthe matrix band C will be drawn around the axial contour of the tOOtlL' 1 'i V The saliva-ejector attachment B defines an anchor member vG havingasaddle 18 projecting from its top; This saddle is positioned to slide over the exterior surface of the curved end 19 0f the U-shaped head E of the retainer A, when the anchor member is moved against the head from a lateral direction. Moreover, the anchor member has a pin or'vertical wedge 20 fixed thereto so as to extend therefrom. This pin is adapted for sliding into the interior of the retainer head E, between the fingers 12 and immediately underneath the curved end 19 of the head (see Figures 3 and 4). The saddle 13 and the pin 20 frictionally engage with the retainer head E to thereby removably attach the anchor member G to the retainer A.

In order to retain a roll 21 of absorbent material on the buccal (cheek-side) of the posterior (back) teeth, a rollholder H has been provided. This holder defines a pair of spaced-apart arms 22, the inner ends 23 of which are journalled in a bore 24, the latter being fashioned in the upper part of the anchor member G (see Figure 3). These arms are adapted to extend transocclusally in a buccolingual direction relative to the banded tooth D, and are separated from oneanother sufficiently to giveaccess to the entire occlusal (grinding) surface of this tooth. V

For the purpose of removing excess saliva from the; operative field, the attachment B has been provided with an upper clamp section B which is fixed to the anchor member G. The saliva ejector further includes a disposable lower section B which is detachably carried by the upper section B The disposable section constitutes an outlet for secretions, and has a suction tube 25 coupled thereto. Elbow 250 takes up little vertical space in the mouth and prevents the hose 25 from contacting with the palate of the patients mouth.

As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the disposable section is fashioned with an aperturedsuction tube 26 that is curved occlusally to define a rocker that will rest gently on the floor. 27 of the patients mouth, when the retainer A'is anchored to the banded tooth D. The tubular stem 28 at the disposable section B telescopes between a pair of resilient coacting jaws 29 of the upper section B It will be apparent that the disposable section B is adjustable toward and away from the floor 27 of the patients mouth, thus accommodating the attachment to teeth of different heights and mouths of various depths. The stem 28 and the jaws 29 are non-circular in their telescoping portions to thereby hold the lower section B against rotation relative to the upper section B (see Figure 6). This stem is provided with a conical-shaped upper end 28a to which the hose is connected by an elbow fitting 25a. This fitting may be rotated about the axis of the conical-shaped end 28a to thus move the hose 25 away from the operative field.

The disposable section may be made from suitable plastic material so that it may be discarded after being used. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, a row of apertures 30 are provided on the underneath part of the suction tube 26, while bucco-lingual apertures 31 are further provided in this tube. The opposite ends 32 of this suction tube are closed. The curvature of the tube 26 is somewhat pronounced, as suggested in Figures 2 and 5, so as to prevent the apertures 30 and 31 from becoming clogged by the soft tissue in the patients mouth.

The curved suction tube 26 is so designed that it may be used with equal ease and efiiciency on either the right or left side of the mouth of the patient, thereby obviating the necessity of a plurality of attachments to permit bilateral use. Moreover, this tube is mounted so as to be spaced from the lingual (tongue-side) of the patients teeth, when the retainer A is anchored to a patients tooth D by the matrix band C. Thus a roll 33 of absorbent material may be interposed between the suction tube 26 and the patients teeth on the lingual aspect.

The curved rocker tube 26 occupies a pivotal relationship with the saddle 18 and the pin 20, when attached to the contraangle retainer A, thereby maintaining a functioning angulation with respect to the retainer, regardless of whether it is being used on a distantly-remote third molar D or on a mesially forward bicuspid D The suction tube 26 may be flattened transversely as compared with its height, as suggested in Figure 3, so as to take up the minimum amount of space under and alongside of the patients tongue. Accumulated saliva is withdrawn from both the mesial and distal curved portions of the tube 26, and this saliva is discharged through the outlet stem 28 and the hose 25. The latter may be connected to a dental unit aspirator, surgical vacuum pump, or a central suction system, as the operator elects.

As shown in Figure 1, the retainer A and my attachment B have been applied to the lower left quadrant of the patients teeth. It is obvious that when teeth are to be restored in the lower right quadrant, the anchor member G may be attached to the opposite side of the retainer head E from that shown in the drawing, thereby permitting the retainer to remain on the lingual (tongue-side) of the patients teeth.

As previously mentioned, the disposable lower section B may be made from plastic material. The tubular stem 28 provides an accurate and snug-fitting telescoping adaptation with the resilient jaws 29. The frictional grip between the stem 28 and the jaws 29 permits a self-retaining vertical adjustment feature that permits the operator to retract or extend the lower section B as needed. These jaws may be provided with ears 29a thereon to facilitate the adjustment of the upper and lower sections relative to one another.

The oval cross-section of the tubular stem 28 (see Figure 6) is designed to perform a two-fold function: Firstly, it acts as a guide, or positioner, permitting the lower section B to be placed instantly and without error in the proper position, irrespective of whether the attachment is disposed on the right or left side of the mouth, or whether this section is rotated 180 when applied to the section B It will be appreciated that the suction tube 26 must paral- 4 lel the lingual (tongue-side) of the teeth and the alveolar ridge 34. Secondly, the fashioning of the stem 28 with an oval cross-section serves to decrease the bucco-lingual bulk of the attachment, while maintaining the necessary interior areas for the collection and transmission of accumulating fluids from the floor 27 of the mouth in proximity to the field of operation.

The rocker-like suction tube 26 is so designed that it may be in direct contact with the soft-tissues, which form the floor 27 of the mouth, without causing discomfort to the patient. The present design permits manual adjustment of the height of the plastic section or tip B so that it does not press uncomfortably on the floor of those months having very short teeth, not remain suspended above the water-line on those cases having abnormally long teeth.

Inasmuch as the section B is replaceable and relatively inexpensive, it is entirely expendable. A new and clean plastic tip or section may be used for each patient. In the event that there should be an unusual clogging or blockage of the section B while taking an impression or other debris-laden operation, it is infinitely less costly in time, labor and expense to replace the inoperative plastic section with a new one.

Finally, the psychological effect on the patient in observing the dentist, or his assistant, insert a new, clean and sanitary plastic section on the attachment tends to create a favorable impression on the part of the patient.

I claim:

1. In a saliva-ejector attachment for a dental matrix band retainer: an anchor member having means detachably securing the same to a head of a matrix band retainer; and a saliva-ejector having an upper section fixed to the anchor member, and including a disposable lower section detachably carried by the upper section; the disposable section being fashioned with an apertured suction tube, which will rest gently on the floor of a patients mouth, when the retainer is anchored by a matrix band to a tooth of the patient; the disposable section and its suction tube being adjustable toward and away from the floor of the patients mouth.

2. The saliva-ejector attachment for a dental matrix band retainer, as defined in claim 1; and in which the disposable section is held against rotation relative to the upper section.

3. In a saliva-ejector attachment for a dental matrix band retainer: an anchor member having means detachably securing the same to a head of a matrix band retainer; and a saliva-ejector carried by the anchor member, and including an upper clamp section having a pair of resilient coacting jaws; the saliva-ejector further including a disposable lower section, which defines a tubular stem telescopically disposed between said jaws; the disposable section having an apertured suction tube which is connected to said tubular stem to deliver secretions thereto; the disposable section and its suction tube being adjustable toward and away from the floor of the patients mouth, when the retainer is anchored by a matrix band to a tooth of the patient; the tubular stem of the lower section and the resilient jaws of the upper section being non-circular in their telescoping portions to thereby hold the lower section against rotation relative to the upper section.

4. In a saliva-ejector attachment for a dental matrix band retainer: an anchor member having means detachably securing the same to a head of a matrix band retainer; a saliva-ejector having an upper section fixed to the anchor member; the saliva-ejector including a disposable lower section detachably carried by the upper section; the disposable section being fashioned with an apertured suction tube, which is disposed to rest gently on the floor of a patients mouth, when the retainer is anchored by a matrix band to a tooth of the patient; the disposable section being adjustable toward and away from the floor of the patients m uth; the disposable section including an upwardly-extending tubular outlet stem; and a suction hose connected by an elbow to an upper end of said outlet stem.

5. The saliva-ejector attachment, as defined in claim 4; and in which the elbow is rotatable about the axis of said stem, whereby the suction hose may be moved out of the operative field.

6. The saliva-ejector attachment, as defined in claim 4; and in which the suction tube is flattened transversely as compared with its height so as to take up the minimum amount of space under and alongside of the patients tongue.

7. In a saliva-ejector attachment for a dental matrix band retainer: an anchor member having means detachably securing the same to a head of a matrix band retainer; a saliva-ejector having an upper clamp section fixed to the anchor member, and defining a pair of resilient coacting jaws which are oval-shaped in outline; the saliva-ejector including a disposable lower section having a tubular stem telescopically disposed between said jaws; the disposable section being fashioned with an apertured suction tube, which is curved occlusally to define a rocker that will rest gently on the floor of a patients mouth, when the retainer is anchored by a matrix band to a tooth of the patient; the disposable section and its suction tube being adjustable toward and away from the floor of the patients mouth; the stem of the disposable section being oval in cross-section, and being snugly embraced by the resilient jaws in their telescoping portions, whereby the jaws hold the lower section against rotation; and a suction tube connected by an elbow-shaped fitting to an upper end of said stern; said fitting being rotatable about the axis of said stem, whereby the suction hose may be moved out of the operative field.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,507,938 Smith May 16, 1950 

